What is it about?
In our research, we looked at how empowering women in Southeast Asian countries affects their use of contraception. We studied five countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, The Philippines, and Timor-Leste. We found that when women have jobs, they are more likely to use contraception. However, disagreeing with reasons for wife beating did not seem to affect contraception use. Having more say in household decisions only helped in Cambodia, and knowing more about contraception helped in Cambodia and Myanmar. This means that helping women find jobs and educating them about contraception can make a big difference. It's also important to involve women in making decisions at the national, community, and family levels to reduce gender inequality."
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Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our study is unique for its focus on Southeast Asian countries, where information on women's empowerment and contraceptive use was lacking. It highlights the importance of women's employment and knowledge in contraception. This research is timely and offers practical solutions for policymakers and organizations to empower women through jobs and education, improving access to contraception and reducing gender inequality. It's a valuable resource for a broad readership.
Perspectives
This publication highlights the crucial link between women's empowerment and reproductive choice in Southeast Asian countries. It's noteworthy that women's employment and knowledge about contraception positively influence contraceptive use, offering actionable insights for policymakers. This research underscores the importance of gender equality in decision-making. Overall, it's a timely and relevant contribution to the global conversation on women's rights and empowerment.
Mr Ferry Efendi
Universitas Airlangga
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Women’s empowerment and contraceptive use: Recent evidence from ASEAN countries, PLoS ONE, June 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287442.
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